What Causes the Skin to Age?

Genetics plays a key role in our sensitivity to the sun, which is passed down to us from our parents.  What we are talking about here is how fast your skin will turn red and burn.  Usually the amount of melanin, a compound found in the human body, determines how fast we will burn or tan under sun exposure and determines our skin care color.  Therefore, sun is the major contributing factor in the aging process of the skin.  

Take for example our bums---yes the one we sit on everyday. For most of us, our derriere never sees the sun as we age while other areas of our skin become freckled and thinned out due from the loss of collagen. But not your bottom.  

Remember, there is never a good sunburn—even if you tan afterwards.  Sun exposure accumulates in our bodies from the time we are born and continues throughout our lives.  

Sunburn, which causes bad burns leading to blisters and skin peeling is directly connected to aging of the skin, which causes wrinkles, age-spots, and most severely melanoma, which is skin cancer.  

When the skin is burned, it damages the skin cells. Sometimes the cells repair themselves but most of the time they become dysfunctional. This causes the skin to form a pigmented area, freckles, lines, loss of collagen, and melanoma.

Skin cancer and aging are lifestyle hazards and can age us fast and furious!  We can stop both by staying out of the sun as much as possible. If you do go out in the sun, use sun safety.  

Here are a few recommendations. It’s important to remember to know that the sun’s rays are at their highest peak during the summer months and between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunscreen plays a key role in protecting your skin. Use one that contains a minimum of SPF 50+.  Remember to reapply sunscreen every 45 to 90 minutes throughout the time you are in the sun.  Wear hats, sunglasses, and even clothing with SPF built into the fibers when you can. Till next time......